When Nan Zhiyun woke up, Jiang Ji had not yet left. He had been standing guard here for more than an hour. Nan Zhiyun had just woken up when she saw a silhouette beside her and was momentarily disoriented.
"Meow~" The bell cried out, and Nan Zhiyun blinked, then noticed the bell curled up by her pillow.
"Your servant pays his respects to Her Majesty the Empress," Jiang Ji said at the opportune moment, and Nan Zhiyun finally saw clearly that it was Jiang Ji.
"Bell missed Her Majesty dearly after such a long separation. She has been restless these past few days, so I brought her here. Bell is clever and likely remembers the scent on Your Majesty, which is why she immediately went to Your Majesty's side upon entering. I feared disturbing Your Majesty, so I did not take her away. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness." Jiang Ji returned to his usual demeanor.
Nan Zhiyun sat up. Bell meowed twice and then burrowed into Nan Zhiyun's embrace. Nan Zhiyun did not flinch and instead held Bell in her arms, though she still remained silent.
Jiang Ji waited by her side without disturbing her. After a long while, Jiang Ji heard the sound of sobbing from Nan Zhiyun's direction.
It was a suppressed, restrained sob. Nan Zhiyun was still forcing herself to bear the pain, and Jiang Ji's heart seemed to clench with her cries. However, his identity ultimately forbade it. Jiang Ji quickly masked the emotion in his eyes and spoke, "Your servant spent two days at the General's mansion with Bell."
"General Nan also doted on Bell, especially when he learned she was Her Majesty's pet. General Nan held Bell every day. Your servant believes this must be a case of loving the person and extending that love to all associated with them."
"General Nan deeply cherished Your Majesty. Your Majesty is General Nan's only daughter, and he surely wished for Your Majesty to be well. If Your Majesty is in this state now, the General's spirit in heaven would certainly not rest easy." Jiang Ji added a few more words.
Listening to Jiang Ji, Nan Zhiyun's tears fell even more profusely. She held Bell in her arms as if her father were still alive.
"Her Majesty the Empress may not know that during these days at the General's mansion, General Nan would recount stories of Your Majesty's childhood to your servant every day. Although General Nan was a military man, he was truly meticulous, remembering every small detail of Your Majesty's life." Jiang Ji continued to speak.
"Your Majesty may not know this, but your servant truly envies Your Majesty, because... your servant was abandoned by his family since birth..." Jiang Ji spoke of himself, and Nan Zhiyun seemed to have a slight reaction upon hearing this.
"Would Your Majesty be willing to hear your servant recount his life story? If Your Majesty is feeling listless, perhaps hearing this tale would pass the time?" Jiang Ji looked at Nan Zhiyun.
Nan Zhiyun finally turned her head to look at Jiang Ji. Jiang Ji smiled. This was the first time Nan Zhiyun had seen Jiang Ji smile.
"Then your servant shall tell Your Majesty." Jiang Ji looked into Nan Zhiyun's eyes, not flinching for the first time.
"Your servant's mother was a woman from a brothel, and his so-called father was the young master of a wealthy household. He had a wife, and his wife was also a renowned lady from a distinguished family. In the eyes of the world, they were a loving couple. He had no concubines, only his wife, which garnered much envy. In their eyes, he and his wife were like a pair of celestial companions." Jiang Ji seemed to find this part amusing and ironic as he spoke.
Nan Zhiyun also seemed to be gradually drawn in by Jiang Ji's story.